Superman versus the KKK

See, now you think this is one of those comicbook stories...but actually this one's pretty true. Superman really did help fight the KKK. Here's the story.

It's just one of those many titbits of knowledge that I have, and I figured I'd share.

Warren Ellis gives you free herpes

Well, actually he gives you a brand new free webcomic. But seeing as he lives in Southend, herpes is pretty likely as well.

Great caesar's ghost!

You know, it wasn't until I started trying to think of a title for this post that I realised that Marvel's side characters don't really have the soundbytery that DC's do. Just thought I'd mention that.

Of course, what I could've titled this was Marvel give you 250 comics for free. Because at the moment, that's exactly what they're doing.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have 248 comics to go.

I'd like to recommend something...

This website to be specific.

But I can't, because it won't bloody load!

Apparently, it's a digital copy of the Da Vinci's Last Supper in super high resolution, so I'm dying to see it. Apparently, The image is 1,600 times stronger than those taken with a typical 10 million pixel digital camera. Apparently, you can see how Da Vinci made the cups slightly transparent and the affect that Milan's airbourne polution has had on the painting.

Still won't bloody load though. Dammit!

Yowzah

Not the smallest read this one, but probably worth a look.

If you go here, you can read the story of Alan Johnson's abduction in his own words. No tit and fart jokes for this one I reckon, as what Mr Johnson went through wasn't much of a comedy gem. Still, it's really well written and an addictive read.

So there.

I am such a geek.

There's no sense denying it. I've just watched an episode of Smallville which featured Impulse, Green Arrow, Cyborg & Aquaman. I spent way too much time giggling like a schoolboy over the clever little nods to the comics and the fish jokes made at the expense of Aquaman...

It was good though.

A fishy tale...

So a couple of weeks ago, everyone's favourite red-top for boobs and bullshit the Sun ran a story about how Cornwall was facing destruction at the hands of a terrifying great white shark. They included attack stories, the best places to see them, and facts about the great white.

What a surprise that the whole thing has turned out to be a load of balls. For anyone unfamiliar with the British newspaper industry, it goes something like this - if the newspaper has a red logo (Daily Mirror, Daily Star, The Sun) it's full of tits, celebrity gossip and made up 'news'. If it's Got a black logo and needlessly large headlines (Daily Express, Daily Mail) then it's sensationalised phooey, and if it's got a sensible logo and sensible headlines, then it's that rarest of creatures - an actual newspaper.

Hope that helps everyone sort out truth from total fucking bollocks.

Wow - Smallville doesn't suck!

At the moment at least.

Yes, I've watched it from time to time; and for the most part it's a bit naff really. There are some high spots (like when Bart Allen showed up, or when Evil Lex was in the show) but for the most part it's a bit too much 'Beverley Hills Krypto210' for my liking.

But after saying that, at this point in time, it's worth watching. Why? Because Oliver Queen is in it. Ollie is probably my favourite long running DC hero alongside the Flash, and they way he's evolved over the last few years has only made him more awesome.

Now I realise that some of you won't have clue one who Oliver Queen is, so I shall now tell you that he is - The Green Arrow. There's no denying that when the Green Arrow showed up, he was a bit of a batman clone. He had the Arrowplane, Arrowcar & Arrowcave. But he was like Batman with trick arrows! Prime examples would include the Handcuff arrow, the Smokescreen arrow and the classic Boxing Glove arrow.

These days though, Ollie's moved on and he's a lot cooler than Batman. He's not a dark moody sod, he doesn't spend his life cooped up in a dark and soggy cave, and he's capable of having relationships with people that don't come down to "Fuck you, I'm the Batman." If you're genuinely interested, then I'd advise you to pick up a copy of "Quiver" from your friendly neighbourhood comicstore. I like it.

My name's Joe, and I'm the fastest blog alive

Or something like that.

For those of you who have no idea what that's a reference to, it's a comicbook character called "The Flash" (it's in italics because it's moving quickly).

The Flash is one of DC's longest running superheroes, and there's been a Flash in some form or another through most of comicbook history. Unlike characters like Spiderman or Batman though, the mantle of the Flash has been passed on to younger characters a few times as the book has gone on.

I won't bore you with all the details (you can find them quite easily on Wikipedia) but I will say that I was a huge fan of Wally West. The writing on the book was good, there was a more lighthearted feel to the book and it was just good old fashioned superheroistic fun.

Then came the reboot. A year ago, Flash got a new title, a new issue number 1, and the mantle was passed on to Bart Allen. I was a bit miffed, but I'm a big boy these days, and I was prepared to give it a chance. Unfortunately, they also changed the writer. They changed from a good writer, to a bad writer. Danny Bilson should have been good. He wrote the Flash TV Series, which though hampered by dodgy special effects and cheesy acting was a fun series to watch. So I wasn't expecting the writing to be bad. But it was. I lasted 4 issues before I couldn't face it any more, and I went into mourning for a character that I'd enjoyed and was now dead to me.

So today comes the good news. Not only is Bilson off the job, but he's being replaced by Mark Waid - a writer who was responsible for one of the best runs on the Flash ever. Not only are they getting rid of the new title, but they're even going back to the old title and continuing the numbering as if the shitty new title never existed. But best of all is this - Wally's coming back. With his corny jokes, his laid back easygoingness that no-one else in the DCU seems to have and with his ability to be a superhero that isn't screaming about angst all the damn time.

And that's a flash fact.

Batman Returns 2 : Bat Harder!

Or something like that. Information about the sequel to Batman Begins has started to leak out. I liked Begins, and found it a refreshing change from the travesty of cinema that was Joel Schumacher's attempts at the Bat-franchise.

I do remember reading an interview once where Schumacer's name came up, and the reason why he keeps getting films to make was explained - he makes his films cheaply, and always finishes on time. That's right - quality isn't important, it's all about making the film under budget and before deadline. Depressing isn't it.

Anyway - here's a picture of Heath Ledger as the Joker. Enjoy being creeped the fuck out.

An important day approacheth

I know approacheth isn't a real world, but then at least I'm not saying things like "y r u bovring m3?"

So quit your damnable moaning.

Now, here's where I get to the point. Saturday the 5th of May is a very important occasion for comicbook readers the world over. Why? Well because it's FREE COMIC DAY. Now, unlike high five day, this is a real thing folks. Comicbook companies produce special editions specifically for this day, and participating stores give these books away.

So there you go - free stuff will be available on saturday - all you have to do is go to a comicbook store.

Fight Club 2 confirmed

That's correct. The long awaited sequel to the accliamed dark comedy Fight Club is on. Edward Norton has signed up for the movie, and it's anticipated that this time, his rampant id will be played by a giant green CGI character.

Oh hang on.

So yeah, Marvel films are having a shot at making The Incredible Hulk, and Edward Norton's signed up to play Banner. Five quid says that the film includes the line "I am Bruce's seething anger".

Farewell Kilgore Trout

No huge post here, just a note that Kurt Vonnegut died this week. Rather a shame really. I remember reading Breakfast of Champions when I was a student and really enjoying it.

The Guardian have got a pretty good obituary on their website.

First Ironman film image unleashed on web

Bare in mind that this is a photo of what's supposed to be the prototype of the Ironman suit. Take particular note of the flamethrower attached to the arm. Looks pretty good to me.

I'm actually really impressed that they're going all out and getting the rough and ready feel of the prototype suit right. I'm also looking forward to seeing what Robert Downey Jr does with the role, as he's a pretty decent actor when the mood takes him, and the character should be one that he can get his teeth into.

I would have been interested to see a transcript of the meeting where they pitch it to him though...

"Well Rob, it's a role playing a stupidly wealthy substance abusing playboy who bangs hot chicks, and flys around in a suit of armour."
"Am I going to have to act at all for this role?"
"Well you don't have a suit of flying armour."
"Oh yeah."

Awesome.

comicbooks comicbooks comicbooks

To behonest, you should consider yourselves lucky that I lasted this long without mentioning these things. I was a huge comicbook nerd when I was a kid, and despite my best attempts to free myself of their heroin like grip, I still slip back every now and again.

The main reason for my consistent failures to leave comicbooks behind is a book called Daredevil. It's not fair dammit. The story has been consistently impressive for years on end now, and if anything it appears to be getting better.

It's not fair. I'm not going to plough into some overly long exploration of the character, his history and why I think it's such a good story (I just posted that over in the Something Awful forums). I'm just going to tell you that if you like comicbooks, you should check out DD.

I should also say something to people who've seen the Daredevil movie: Shit wasn't it.